What a wild ride the last few months have been.
Covid starting in March, violent riots in Minneapolis (and around the country) over the past couple weeks, having to run a highrise project and project team remotely...and distance learning that lasted through the end of the school year....
Distance learning felt both long and short. Both hard and easy. Somewhat nice and somewhat sad.
At the beginning of quarantine, we established a quiet workspace for everyone. We set up desks in Ryder's room, Logan's room and the master bedroom (for me - Shawn works in the kitchen).
Ryder and Logan both had an iPad from school for their daily work. Ryder was 99% independent and focused on his work. Once his class found their rhythm, he would do work online from about 8am - 10 or 11am. He generally liked it. He really liked his daily Google Meet calls.
Logan's work was a little tougher and most of it could not be done independently. Some of it was pretty tricky to complete on the platform provided. He was generally ok with starting it each morning as long as he had solid time from Shawn or I to help.
I think if most kids could choose, they would rather go to school than learn online at home. They miss their friends, they miss their teachers, they probably miss hot lunch. They are not getting in as much activity as when they are running around at the before and after school programs and with sports.
To celebrate the end of the school year, they had a car parade for all the students with the teachers out waving goodbye to the students. The boys decorated the Jeep with balloons and streamers and got to see their teachers one last time. I wasn't at that parade but did see the teachers the day before at technology drop off. Shawn and I both agreed it was a bit emotional! So much for these kids, their classes, their teachers, and each family to all go through.
We continued to celebrate the end of school / beginning of summer with our first pool day at Grandma D's on Thursday, a neighborhood street party on Friday, and some swimming with neighbors today. No hugs, trying to stay 6' apart, lots of hand washing.
Nothing is normal, nothing is perfect, but we're hoping to still make some great memories this summer and soak up all this extra time with our kids that we are going to look back on someday and wish we could have back.
(Photos to come)
